Magic in the Air: The Myth, the Mystery, and the Soul of the Slam Dunk by Mike Sielski
Big props to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Publishers, and
NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Mike Sielski’s excellent
new book on basketball Magic in the Air: The Myth, the Mystery, and the Soul of the Slam Dunk. I was excited to find this book available to read since I’m
familiar with Sielski’s writing from The Inquirer and his weekly show on
94.1. To say this book is simply about basketball really doesn’t approach the
full scope and nature of this book. Sielski starts the book in the present, by
examining one of the most exciting and entertaining players in the NBA, Ja
Morant. Sielski goes much deeper than his on the court interview with Morant
before a Sixers game, and actually visited Murray State in Kentucky to learn
more about Morant’s journey to the NBA and how he became such an explosive
dunker. In fact, Sielski’s deep dive into Morant’s college years is similar to
the kind of treatment his other subjects receive. That is, Sielski conducts
extensive research, including personal interviews with subjects and their
families, whenever possible, to trace the social and cultural history of the
dunk. I really appreciated this kind of approach since it allows Sielski’s
narrative and thesis about the dunk to expand beyond the hardwood, and look at
how the dunk is reflective of changes in society. Beyond Ja Morant’s story,
there was a lot that I learned from this book, particularly about the nature
and rules about basketball. Each chapter delves into different innovators and
individuals who had some hand in pushing the game into different directions,
with the dunk being one of the more innovative practices that has helped to change
the game. I really enjoyed learning about John McLendon, who ended up studying
under Dr. James Naismith at the University of Kansas. This early chapter not
only provided some information about the purpose of basketball, but also
allowed readers to see how McLendon’s philosophies, especially the idea of the
fast break, helped to reshape the game and alter the kinds of coaching
strategies for basketball. Furthermore, as one of the few African American
students at the University of Kansas in the 1930s, McLendon faced challenges in
accessing the facilities that other white Phys Ed majors had access to. This
section not only showed how Naismith envisioned basketball as a kind of social
tool to teach cooperation, but also showed how progressive and accepting he
was, providing McLendon with football players to stand guard while he swam in
the pool. Other chapters traced the elusive history of the first dunk, examining
some of the potential first dunkers in NCAA games. Interestingly, many coaches
did not like the dunk, since it seemed like something only a tall player could
execute well. This not only highlighted the kind of height advantage that tall
players had, but it also starts to emphasize the kind of differences in
philosophies that basketball coaches presented, where the original game was
based more on sound fundamentals, including passing, dribbling, and teamwork.
The dunk seemed more like an individual expression; yet, Sielski’s research and
analysis presents some examples of how teammates, especially KC Jones and Bill Russell
developed the alley-oop (or from the French circus term allez hop), to
bring in some of the team work and collaboration that this involved.
I have to say that these sections that trace some of the more well-known NBA players (Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul Jabar) were my favorite parts of the book. Not only does Sielski provide great historical context, but he also analyzes how the dunk moved from like a tall advantage shot to something more skillful and personal- an expression that not only reflected the creativity and talent from players, but also represented a change in the game, moving from the kind of sound fundamentals to bringing in some of the flair and style from the playground. What I didn’t know was that there was a nearly decade long ban on dunking in high schools, colleges, and the NBA. I was shocked to learn this, and Sielski’s research kind of leads to some suggestions that there was a kind of bias that helped to institute the ban. This section was interesting to read, and shows the extent of Sielski’s research, although he was denied access to the archives that could help confirm or deny the ban. I also loved that Sielski’s book has such a strong Philly vibe, although I guess that is to be expected. Nevertheless, reading his book helped remind me of how Philly hoops are often overlooked, especially when considering places like NYC. Sielski pays homage to greats like Wilt and Tom Gola, who was one of the NCAA’s best players in the 50s at La Salle College (now University), and John Edgar Wideman, the esteemed writer, originally from Pittsburgh, but who played at Penn in the 60s.
Other chapters look at some great dunkers whose careers
might not have been as well known as some of the greats, for various reasons. I
really enjoyed learning about these players since I’ve heard of them, but didn’t
really know much about their careers and the factors that may have limited
their exposure and opportunities with the NBA (Connie Hawkins, Earl Manigault,
and David Thompson). Sielski portrays them with respect and reverence, and
helps to explore the context of the NBA/ABA when they were playing, allowing
readers to better understand the situation. I was really surprised to learn how
unfairly Connie Hawkins was treated, and despite winning a championship for
Pittsburgh’s ABA team, he never really reached the same kind of success and
recognition that someone like Wilt Chamberlain reached. I also really enjoyed
learning more about the ABA, and how innovative that short-lived league was.
Not only did they allow dunks, but they also had the first dunk contests. Julius
“Dr. J” Erving features prominently in these sections, as he was one of the first
stars to transition from the ABA to the NBA. Growing up around the Philly area,
Dr. J was probably the first basketball player I remember, and it was great to
learn about his life and background. Sielski dedicates more than a chapter to
Dr. J, going back to his early childhood on Long Island and his time at UMass.
The other chapters that I also really liked were the later chapters that looked
at Michael Jordan and the dunk contests from the 80s, which was when I really
started to get more into the NBA.
The later chapters are also really interesting in that Sielski explores the demise of the dunk, and how analytics have extended the game beyond the arc, focusing more on the 3 point shot. Some comments from older players like Dominique Wilkins and Vince Carter suggest that current players have too much to lose in both defending and executing dunks, and that the value in outside shots helped to shift the game from an inside, driving style, to a game on the perimeter. I hadn’t thought too much about this shift, and how basketball has really changed over the past 20 years or so, but it is interesting to consider. It’s also cool to see more players like Morant and Anthony Edwards who continue to drive the lane and remain fearless in their pursuit of posterizing opponents. Yet, according to some of the players in Sielski’s book, protecting reputations and brands seem to be more important than helping the team win or taking risks like the kinds of risks that have helped to further the game of basketball.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and it was much more in-depth and analytical than I initially expected. However, having read some of Sielski’s columns, I know that he is a skilled writer who can dribble drive his subject and play above the rim, while also passing the ball to others through skilled in-depth interviews, creating a broad perspective of the game and going in-depth with a subject like the dunk. Sielski’s analysis explores not just the historical facts, but also the social, cultural, and strategic significance of the dunk for players and the game. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are a Philly sports fan or a fan of basketball.
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